Prof Ongeri must go!
On June 20, 2011 at around 9am four activists ( Tom Oketch, Okoit Omtata, Sheikh Ahmed and George Nyongesa) stormed into Minister for Educations office on Jogoo House and staged a sit-in to demand that Prof. Ongeri resign or be fired by President Mwai Kibaki to pave way for further investigation. This was accasioned by Treasury’s internal Audit report that revealed that Free Primary Education Fund had lost Kshs. 4.6 Billion.
Our demand does not mean that he is culpable but we hold it that he is the duty bearer and he has an obligation to be accountable to the people of Kenya about their money. The same activists were among the 22 who were arrested on December 24, 2009 following a civic action to spotlight embezzlement of FPE money.
By close of business on June 20th, the activists had only heard from Permanent Secretary, Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi who defended himself saying he does not know who stole the money.
Yesterday, June 21st, the activists returned to the Ministers office and subdued intimidation from anti riot police who demanded that they leave. However, they staged an overnight vigil at Jogoo House. As I write this statement, the activists are still holding out at Jogoo House 2nd floor room 204. We are mobilizing more support from our networks this morning to join so as to make it business unusual at the Ministry until something comes up.
The activists are determined to stay put at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters at Jogoo House until the Minister resigns or is fired to pave way for further investigation. In the event that he is found culpable, he should be prosecuted and the money recovered.
We are also asking the British government not to demand their money back because the money gives relief to the poor families. Prof. Ongeri’s children do not go to public schools and will not be affected. The British government should use other means of holding Kenya’s political leadership accountable on corruption.
With the new Constitution, the new Chief Justice, increased demand for integrity among Judges and Magistrates, and the promise of total overhaul of the Judicial system, the ball is in the court of citizens to make Kenya a better a nation.
We must now make the concept of accountability a reality and inculcate the culture of taking responsibility into our public affairs. This is a song we sang as we whiled the night away at Jogoo House on June 21, 2011.
The following are the activists in the photos: Florence Kanyua, Francis Sakwa, Vincent Kidaha, John Koome, Gabriel Adigo, Japhet Moroko, John Abok, Gacheke Gachihi, Fredrick Odhiambo, Okoiti Omtata and George Nyongesa.
George Nyongesa, Bunge la Mwananchi, 0733 82 7859
About the Author
Prof. Ongeri should not waste Kenyans time. Children must get their money for free education system,and Ongeri should tell Kenyans why is he the Minister for education and to do what in education office? The demand is asking the Ministry of education to act on this issue which is headed by Ongeri.Kibaki should clear every body from that Ministry just a big overhaul. No one should remain there for blame games.They must go all of them.